SDCC 2019: #ReleaseTheSnyderCut Gaining More Momentum With New Billboards

BY Shah Shahid July 17, 2019August 16, 2019

Since Justice League’s release, fans have debated about the possibility of a secondary version, dubbed ‘The Snyder Cut’. Now, new billboards have appeared at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, begging for Warner Bros. to release it to the public.

The controversy behind Justice League began on day one, with the poor critical and commercial reception to Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice. This prompted WB to make many changes to the movie, mid-production. The original director of the film, Zack Snyder, left the film partly due to a personal tragedy. The end product was a mish-mash of Snyder’s vision, blended with other writers’, and director Joss Whedon’s reshoots of the film.

Many people proclaimed that no such version of the movie even exists, which further fueled the debate. However, the director, many of the film’s stars, crew, and some test screening audiences have refuted that claim.

With San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) this week, brand new outcry for the Snyder Cut has arisen in the form of Billboards around the venues.

The Snyder Cut Movement Gains Momentum

As posted by Will Rowlands, the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut group have commissioned billboards touting the epic calibre of the Snyder Cut. The group’s purpose is to persuade Warner Bros. to release the version of the movie that was directed by Snyder. While also raising money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

How HBO Max Stirred The Pot

Interest for the Snyder Cut remerged after Warner Bros. new combined streaming service recently released a teaser and announcement of their new app, HBO Max. The teaser features snippets of scenes from Justice League. The fans became newly outraged seeing Justice League being marketed to them again. Many even suggested that WB release the Snyder Cut on their new streaming platform, in order to get them to subscribe.

Want me to sign up for this? #ReleaseTheSnyderCut (not that studio mandated mess of Justice League you're including in that ad) and you can have my money, and the money of our movement. I'll instantly sub for a year. Ball is in your court

Most of the WB executives or anyone in a position to do anything about the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut have ignored the movement. However, many close to the film have confirmed the fact that Zack Snyder’s version of Justice League exists.

Straight From The Horses’ Mouth

During a media event, Zack Snyder himself has confirmed that he shot and completed much of his version of Justice League, but releasing it is up to ‘them’, implying Warner Bros. A fan captured the director on camera at the event, which was later shared on Twitter.

Cyborg’s Confirmation Of Snyder Cut

Actor Ray Fisher, who plays Cyborg in Justice League, has also confirmed the existence of a Snyder Cut.

During a panel at Heroes And Villains Fan Fest 2018, Fisher confirmed that Snyder shot everything he wanted and that it’s not a question of whether the cut exists, but rather when audiences would get to see it.

Jason Momoa Ties In Justice League Ending To Aquaman

Aquaman star Jason Momoa definitely confirms the Snyder Cut, during an interview with Chris Van Vliet, even referring to it by name.

Momoa clearly describes how the Justice League ends for Aquaman, and how the ending of that film directly ties into his introduction in Aquaman.

Kevin Smith’s Podcast Provides The Best Proof Of A Snyder Cut

The most telling evidence towards the existence of a Snyder Cut being completed was a leaked report detailing all the changes from the theatrical version to Snyder’s unreleased cut, which was promptly taken down. A site named SuperheroTalkSite released 1 post comprehensively outlining all the changes between the theatrical and Snyder Cut.

Filmmaker and Podcaster Kevin Smith discussed the changes during his Fatman On Batman podcast, which he records in front of a live audience.

During that episode, a woman who had previously claimed to have seen the Snyder Cut as part of test screening, confirmed the changes. Podcast co-host Marc Bernardin identified the woman, who is off-camera, as having seen Snyder’s Justice League, but was unable to provide details previously due to a Non-Disclosure Agreement. But she does chime in to confirm the changes as Smith read out the list.

The Crew Members Spill The Beans

In another Podcast episode from January 2019, Smith once again confirmed the existence of the Snyder Cut.

When recalling his set visit to Star Wars: Episode 9, Smith tells the story of his casual behind the scenes conversations with crew who happened to work on both Snyder’s and Whedon’s productions of Justice League.

The unnamed crew members detail many changes that were already confirmed by other reports and rumours, as well and confirming storyboards by comic book artist and legend Jim Lee. Smith goes on to describe plans for a Zack Snyder trilogy of Justice League movies that provide much context for scenes already included in Snyder’s previous DCEU films. Many of those plans included the resolution and satisfying conclusions to sequences such as Batman’s Knightmare scene in Batman V. Superman, as well as many scenes of Cyborg and Flash’s origins, and the inclusion of Darkseid.

Smith’s reveals that a Green Lantern showed up in Justice League as the seventh member of the team. Specifically, the scene from the trailer where Jeremy Irons’ Alfred welcomes a latecomer to the battle.

A Matter Of When, Not If

At this point, it’s incredibly difficult to doubt that there is a version of Justice League, written and directed to fruition, by Zack Snyder himself. The state of the finished product can be in question, in terms of special effects, voice-over, and other movie magic. But it’s real.

Whether we will ever see it or not, definitely reminds in doubt. However, there may be some light at the end of the boom tube.

Warner Bros. Shake-Up

Former Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara was mostly responsible for the scandal behind the rushed release and massacre of Justice League. Tsujihara was recently replaced by current WB CEO Ann Sarnoff. Given this change in regime, WB should no longer fear of negative publicity arising from the Snyder Cut. Any mistakes that come to light will lay solely at the feet of the previous WB administration. Especially seeing that as more time goes by, we seem to be getting more and more confirmation of the Snyder Cut being very real. Denying which just seems silly at this point.

From a public relations standpoint, it might even benefit WB at this point to release the cut. #ReleaseTheSnyderCut group has collectively raised thousands of dollars for charity, specifically the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The connection there is that Snyder’s daughter died by suicide during Justice League’s post-production, leading to his departure from the film.

Supporting the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut group, as well as DC fans themselves, brings Warner Bros. a public relations victory. As a company facing near-constant criticism for their missteps handling their cinematic universe.

SDCC 2019

Whether or not the campaign by #ReleaseTheSnyderCut at SDCC will have any impact or not remains to be seen. However, HBO’s own official Asian Twitter account, is stoking the fires of fandom even more.

In many recent tweets, the official HBO Asian Twitter account has been reacting to the news of the billboards, and even creating memes for it. The account has been reacting to news of the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut’s Comic-Con presence with ‘*heavy breathing*’, implying a sense of anticipation maybe?

Now, this could easily be the Social Media Coordinator for HBO Asia putting too much of their personal reactions to the news. Or maybe they know something we don’t? Only time will tell.

Warner Bros. isn’t going to have much of a presence at the renowned Hall H at SDCC 2019. However, they will be present with their booth, merch, panels, and introductions of their brand new TV shows. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long to see if Comic-Con is where the Snyder Cut will see a new dawn.

Shah Shahid is an entertainment writer, movie critic (so he thinks), host of the Split Screen Podcast (on Apple Podcasts & everywhere else) and filmy father on a mission to educate his girls on decades of film history. Armed with uncontrollable sarcasm and cautious optimism, Shah loves discussing film, television and comic book content until his wife’s eyes glaze over. So save her by engaging him on his own blog at BlankPageBeatdown.com or on Twitter @theshahshahid.

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